Page 3 of Cold Fury

I love being a nurse. The last couple of years have been difficult, to say the least. But even so, I still feel that this job is my calling. It’s a privilege to work with all of the talented people in this profession. And I’ve found that I thrive on the fast pace of emergency medicine. The highs are stratospheric, and I’ve learned to deal with the lows and think of them as just part of the package.

“Are you seriously going to try to wuss out on me again?” Christy squints at me in disapproval. “You never come out with me! There’s this new place on West Seventh Street in Saint Paul that people are raving about. How can you not want to post up at a table in front of a bottomless glass of mimosas and a plate of delicious carbs? Day drinking is the best cure for stress. Come on, Kat, youknowyou want to.”

I hesitate, wishing I could say yes. It’s not that I don’t want to go out and let loose a little. I’d love to spend a lazy Sunday morning thinking about nothing but what I’m going to grab at my next round at the buffet. Unfortunately, my bank account doesn’t agree.

“It’s just that money’s a little tight,” I murmur.

“Ugh, you always say that.” Christy shakes her cascade of blond hair, which she wears down instead of in a ponytail like most of the nurses who have long hair. Her pretty face is made up to perfection. She looks glamorous, even in nursing scrubs. I swear she looks more like an actress playing a nurse in a TV show than an actual nurse, she’s that put-together.

“You are way too hyper-focused on paying off your student loans,” Christy complains. “One brunch isn’t going to make a huge difference. You have to have fun sometimes, too, you know? Otherwise you’ll get burned out.” She waves her hand around impatiently. “This job is too hard for you to not de-stress whenever you can, girl. Come on, come out with me! Hell, I’ll even pay!”

“No, that’s okay…” I begin, but a voice behind me interrupts us.

“Did someone say going out?” Adam Latto, one of the residents, comes up behind Christy. “Where are we going?” He gives her hourglass figure an appreciative once-over.

“Youare not invited, sir,” Christy says to him dismissively, barely giving him a glance. “Learn to stay in your lane.”

“Damn. That’s cold.” Dr. Latto flashes her a grin of even, white teeth. “Come on, now, don’t be like that.”

Christy whirls to face him. “Like what?” she asks, a challenge in her eyes.

Dr. Latto opens his mouth to respond, but seems to think better of it. “Sheesh,” he mutters. “Forget I said anything.”

Christy pointedly turns her back on him. After a few seconds, he gets the picture and picks up a chart, pretending to look at it. A few seconds later, he sets it down and wanders off.

Christy sighs. “God, whatisit with them? All the male doctors in this hospital think they’re God’s gift to women, I swear.”

It’s a stereotype that any nurse would be thrilled to have captured the interest of a reasonably-handsome up-and-coming doctor. But Christy does not fit the stereotype. Not only is she beautiful enough to be a supermodel, she’s also smart as a whip. Probably smarter than most of the doctors here. But she still has trouble being taken seriously because of her bombshell figure and looks. Male doctors are always flirting with her or even openly hitting on her. More than one patient has tried to cop a feel. Christy has learned to instantly shut down any banter that seems even vaguely sexual in nature. As a result, she’s earned a reputation as a bitch and a hard-ass, which she doesn’t mind a bit.

I know better, though. She might have a tough, no-nonsense exterior, but underneath, she definitely wants a relationship. She’s told me as much. It’s just that the man — or woman — who eventually steals her heart will have to be someone who values her first for her personality and intellect, not her smoking-hot body.

Christy and I continue to go back and forth about brunch until I finally relent and agree to meet her at the new place on West Seventh. I figure I can get something small that doesn’t cost very much. After all, she’s right. I really could use something to look forward to this weekend, to take my mind off… well, everything, really.

At the end of my shift, I change out of my scrubs and into street clothes, making a mental note to do laundry when I get home. It’s a sunny day out, so I grab the ball cap I keep in my bag and put that on, too, pulling my ponytail through the back loop. On the way to the main lobby, I peek out the front windows and see Jimmy, a homeless veteran who hangs out in front of the hospital sometimes. I make a quick detour to the cafeteria to buy him a sandwich and a pop.

“Hey, Jimmy!” I wave to him as I approach the bench where he’s sitting.

“Kat! How ya doin’, baby?” He grins at me with a mouth full of messed-up teeth.

I hand him the sandwich — tuna salad on soft white bread — and the Coke, and sit down next to him. “Good. How about you?”

“Doin’ okay.” He accepts the food without comment and unwraps the sandwich, taking a bite. “You know what?” he asks casually. “I ordered a chicken and an egg online.”

I stop in the midst of pulling out my sunglasses. “You what?”

“Yeah.” He waits a beat, deadpan. “I’ll let you know which comes first.”

I let out a snort of laughter, slipping my shades onto my face against the bright sun. Jimmy is an endless supply of corny jokes. Even though I know this, somehow he still manages to get one by me sometimes if I’m not ready for it.

We chat for a few minutes, enjoying the sunshine. He catches me up on gossip about some of the people he knows in the neighborhood. He tells me his brother’s been trying to reach out to him.

“Your older brother?” I ask. “The one who lives out in Eden Prairie?”

“Yeah. He always tries to get in touch around this time of year. Both our parents died around now. Guess he feels guilty or something. He’s Catholic now. Converted because of his wife.”

“It’s nice he’s making an effort though, right?”

“Ah. It ain’t real, though. Steve don’t really care about me. He just wants me to do what he wants me to do, you know? I mean, it ain’t like he gives me any money. He ain’t offering to let me stay in his house or anything. He just don’t want a brother who’s a homeless guy.”

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